Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle Reading App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Comment: Book has a smokey odor that I personally do not find overwhelming, Clean and unmarked text, light to moderate edge and cover wear, ships from Amazons warehouse

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and .

Managing (Right) for the First Time is intended as a field guide for first time managers, or for managers who want to begin doing a better job. The author worked closely with 600+ companies and interviewed more than 10,000 employees, then summarized the findings in an interesting and eminently readable form. Read this book and you're likely to understand management and leadership like you never have before, but also learn very practical steps toward becoming a better manager and leader. The book begins with preface and introduction, and then contains 21 digestible chapter, starting with a unique view of the basics and then building to an interesting conclusion. Chapter 1 talks about who managers are and how you become one in real life, since the circumstances for your promotion have a significant bearing on how your management experience unfolds. Chapter 2 examines the various reasons for promotion, explaining the implications of each. Chapter 3 explains the few but critical elements that allow an inspired start as a leader, including (Chapter 4) how to manage your boss effectively so that the two of you can actually get things done. Chapter 5 recounts the early discoveries you'll make, hopefully eliminating many of the surprises that might stunt your growth as a manager. Then Chapter 6 explains that there are not just two kinds of managers (good managers and bad managers), but in fact three kinds: evil managers, those who are managing, and those who are not managing. This chapter alone provides some seminal thinking that is certain to change your management life. Chapter 7 details the process for finding the right employee candidates. Chapter 8 provides a thorough look at how to screen applicants reliably. And chapter 9 provides a checklist style program for integrating employees through their initial orientation and first few weeks on the job. To that end, Chapter 10 lays out some important principles to keep in mind when structuring employee roles. Chapter 11 is perhaps the fulcrum of the book in that it compiles the most important individual elements of managing employees well, followed by a revolutionary approach to performance reviews (Chapter 12) that you might actually enjoy doing! Chapter 13 urges you to move beyond reluctant leadership, followed by a logical next step in Chapter 14: being a leader that your employees want to follow. It's all neatly tied together in Chapter 15, which examines the creating and sustaining of an appropriate culture at your firm or department. Chapter 16 explains the different styles of managing, allowing for the different personality types. Chapter 17 notes the important transitions you'll make over time, particularly if you want to remain effective. And Chapter 18 contains a short but important message for control freak managers. Chapter 19 argues for a more open approach to management, and chapter 20 shares a unique perspective on work/life balance so that your role is sustainable over time. Chapter 21 concludes with some specific suggestions designed to help the managers who follow you. Finally, there's a concluding section with real advice from real managers who were asked to speak to you, the reader, sharing what they wish they had known when they set out on their own journey.

{"currencyCode":"USD","itemData":[{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":19.09,"ASIN":"1605440027","isPreorder":0},{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":10.41,"ASIN":"0814417833","isPreorder":0}],"shippingId":"1605440027::lnKZC39vLdFVdfvwNFfC2uygJej4NqDYEfNhmCehyjCyfgOxNZ1nmNENZ4zmUbY4t49KmCaINIz%2Bq5eMSF%2FRW41ZX%2F1Nr9q367%2BuBI6qXAOTwdJSaGFQDw%3D%3D,0814417833::mHThpgSssOOLLpMeQKRn6h77VRE9yxHwGfHG1H5cBtfLA9QNGOxJgJha39VlOVSP%2FoctKZ%2FcO9dlrPyxpVAszmUlAPXbhO5VaRcPTSD%2Fc61001R3BTc1Tw%3D%3D","sprites":{"addToWishlist":["wl_one","wl_two","wl_three"],"addToCart":["s_addToCart","s_addBothToCart","s_add3ToCart"],"preorder":["s_preorderThis","s_preorderBoth","s_preorderAll3"]},"shippingDetails":{"xy":"same"},"tags":["x","y","z","w"],"strings":{"addToWishlist":["Add to Wish List","Add both to Wish List","Add all three to Wish List","Add all four to Wish List"],"addToCart":["Add to Cart","Add both to Cart","Add all three to Cart","Add all four to Cart"],"showDetailsDefault":"Show availability and shipping details","shippingError":"An error occurred, please try again","hideDetailsDefault":"Hide availability and shipping details","priceLabel":["Price:","Price for both:","Price for all three:","Price For All Four:"],"preorder":["Pre-order this item","Pre-order both items","Pre-order all three items","Pre-order all four items"]}}

Editorial Reviews

Review

A friend's request that you review his first book can prompt a range of emotions. On one hand, he's one of the smartest, well-reasoned successful and in-charge people you know. On the other, brilliant authors occasionally produce literary clunkers. It was that with a fair amount of procrastination, I prepared for the reading session. (After all, this was a business book I was about to read, not a Nelson DeMille novel). Within minutes, I found myself half way through the book. Because I know David, I could visualize him sitting across from a new manager, dispensing his counsel in his straight-foward, logical, no-nonsense manner. He writes with authority about the good and not-so-good reasons people are promoted into management roles; the pitfalls and opportunities; the importance of managing the relationship with one's boss; and the critical importance of understanding the core principles that guide successful managers. This book is not meant exclusively for the neophyte. Every manager can profit from it. Experienced managers can use it to assay the fineness of their managing. Moreover, hiring managers will find it an indispensable guide when they promote others to management. From watching David present to large audiences, reading his articles and conversing with him via email, I was certain the book would not be a pompous tome about the importance of motivation, formal employee development programs or organizational development theory. I was not disappointted, as it is wise, tested counsel, presented logically and understandably and immediately usable. --John Ranalletta, Senior Consultant at Advisa

Inc. Magazine just named this book one of the Top 10 Books that Entrepreneurs Should Read. That's quite an honor, and also a validation of the reviews above. --Inc. Magazine

About the Author

David C. Baker was born in Michigan, but lived in San Miguel Acatan, Guatemala with a tribe of Mayan indians until he was eighteen years old, after which he moved to the United States. He spent six years in graduate school, earning an advanced degree in ancient languages and theology. He has taught at the undergraduate and graduate level. David managed a publisher and mail order book house from 1983-1988 and then owned and ran a marketing firm in Warsaw, IN from 1988-1994. David lives in Nashville, TN with his wife Julie. They have two grown boys: Jonathan, who lives in Atlanta, and Nathan, who lives in Nashville. David enjoys playing racquetball, riding fast motorcycles, taking photographs (ReTake), and flying (he's a helicopter and airplane pilot). Since 1994, David has been a speaker, a writer, and a consultant for the marketing industry via his own firm (ReCourses). He has worked with more than 600 firms individually and thousands of people have been through his seminars. David founded RockBench Publishing Corp., a traditional and electronic publisher of courageous thought leadership content. He has been a featured speaker at nearly every marketing industry conference (HOW, AIGA, PRSA, Counselors Academy, MYOB, SEGD, BDA, PROMAX, Y, etc.), as well as a frequent contributor to nearly all the major publications that serve the marketing industry (Critique, Communication Arts, HOW, Rough, Creative Business, PR Intelligence Report, Creative Planet, In-Review, Graphic Artists Guild, Agency Insider Report, Post Industry, Internet Professional Publishers Association, etc.). He edited Persuading for its entire tenure of six years, earning accolades from subscribers all over the planet. His work has been discussed in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Inc. Magazine, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, Forbes, CBS Business Network, and MarketingProfs. He also contributed portions of Cameron Foote's The Business Side of Creativity, Robert Bly's Internet Direct Mail: The Complete Guide to Successful E-Mail Marketing Campaigns, and the new AIGA book on Professional Practices in Graphic Design. He has contributed to a dozen other publications by leading authors, and a recent three-part booklet series was published by NewPage: David C. Baker Speaks, and he has also written Financial Management of a Marketing Firm, also available on Amazon.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

David Baker writes like a mentor throughout the 200 pages of Managing Right for the First Time. He is confident in the knowledge he has to share, and consequently he doesn't waste time trying to justify himself with just-so case studies or second rate neuroscience.

In other words, this is written by a thoughtful, experienced, and articulate leader rather than a self-appointed guru. If you're like me, it's exactly the kind of advice that is helpful.

After being in business for almost 30 years, I found this book 100% accurate, informative and inspiring. It is an easy read and has something in just about every chapter that I can apply to managing my business to make it better.It is also now required reading for anyone in my company that thinks they would make a good manager.It made me laugh out loud in some parts and in others made me realize that I'm not the only one that feels lonely at times being a manager. It also inspires me to be a better leader.Kathy Cain, Zehno Cross Media Communications

I've been a manager for decades, and my childhood dreams sure didn't have anything to do with managing employees. When I was thrust into the role, I was unprepared for it, and I've made a lot of mistakes along the way. Many of them I still remember (and I bet I've made twice as many as I can recall). The wonderful thing about David Baker's book is that every mistake I can remember is documented and dissected. So reading this book is a bit of a tough go for me, as it feels a little like a movie that is reviewing many of the rough bits in my managerial life. How I wish I had this book back then! But reading this book also gives me hope, because I read some topics and think, "Well, at least now I'm handling that situation right (most of the time)." I got better at those situations by making mistakes, but you don't HAVE to make mistakes to get better, if you have someone showing you HOW to do it better, and someone telling you the reason (the WHY). I think of the HOW and the WHY as accumulated wisdom, the kind of advice that the best manager you ever had would give you, if s/he were sitting on your shoulder when those tough situations come up. This book is full of accumulated wisdom. David's been working with managers and firms for decades, and I get the sense he's seen all of the common mistakes and most of the rare ones. I know that he works with and interviews both managers and employees, and when you read this book you get a clear sense that the issues have been thought through from both points of view. In fact, there is one chapter that reads like it was written from the employee's point of view (for example: "Give all of us a chance to work on the best projects.").Read more ›

Finally a book that culminates all the learning and advice of hundreds of managers into one insightful and compact book. Regardless where you are on the manager path -this book has true value. It's jam packed with great examples, practical steps and lots of takeaways to becoming an amazing manager.

David puts at all together in an easy (and entertaining) format and covers everything from becoming a manager to maintaining a work/life balance and everything in between. In 21 short, but content rich chapters he covers - hiring the right people, integrating employees, creating an impactful culture, and even helps you determine what kind of manager you are -including characteristics of a great leader - and every chapter gives you solid advice and tips. If you're a control freak like me - you'll find that chapter particularly resonating!

And for those that think that you've got it all covered and you're already an excellent manager/leader/boss - well - look again...this book will make you really look at yourself and think about how you could be better.

This is the kind of information you wish you had learned in school or that someone gave you this book before you started on the crazy (but fun) managing adventure. And hey, at least it helps you confirm that there's some stuff you've been doing right all along -- and then there's helpful hints to make all the other areas - that much better!)

Other than saying that I highly recommend this book, I can honestly say that this is probably the best management book I've ever read.

David Baker knows what he's talking about! Every chapter of "Managing Right for the First Time" is chock full of wisdom that will benefit all managers--newbies as well as seasoned vets. Though I've been managing people for more than twenty years, there was plenty for me to learn. But I'm especially eager to pass the book along to younger managers in our firm. They'll have the opportunity to learn from a master without having to make all the mistakes for themselves.

I've read a fair number of leadership and management books over the years. Many of them simply don't ring true to what I see in the workplace. David Baker gets it right--management is an utterly human endeavor, fraught with messiness and complications. There's no seven-step program to becoming the perfect manager. Rather, as in any human endeavor, we gain expertise over time, especially as we have opportunity to watch and listen to those who practice the craft with skill. This book is very affordable way to do just that: learn from a master-teacher.

I could say more, but I'll stop. I'd rather you read the book than my comments about it. It's a relatively easy read. Get it, read it, and pass it along to someone else in your firm. A business full of good managers (i.e., those who are "managing right") would be a great place to work!

More About the Author

I was born in Michigan, but lived in San Miguel Acatán, Guatemala with a tribe of Mayan indians until I was eighteen years old,Â after which I moved to the United States. I spent six years in graduate school, earning an advanced degree in ancient languages and theology. I've taught at the undergraduate and graduate level.

I managed a publishing house and mail order book house from 1983-1988 and then owned and ran a marketing firm from 1988-1994.

I live in Nashville, TN with my wife Julie. We have two grown boys: Jonathan lives in Atlanta and Nathan lives in Nashville.

I speak to, write for, and consult with the marketing industry via ReCourses, Inc. I've worked with more than 600 firms individually and thousands of people have been through our seminars.

I own RockBench Publishing Corp., a traditional and electronic publisher of thought leadership content.I am an avid photographer. You can see some of my photographs at ReTake.I have been a featured speaker at nearly every marketing industry conference (HOW, AIGA, PRSA, Counselors Academy, MYOB, SEGD, BDA, PROMAX, Y, etc.).

I have been a frequent contributor to nearly all the major publications that serve the marketing industry (Critique, Communication Arts, HOW, Rough, Creative Business, PR Intelligence Report, Creative Planet, In-Review, Graphic Artists Guild, Agency Insider Report, Post Industry, Internet Professional Publishers Association, etc.). He edited Persuading for its entire tenure of six years, earning accolades from subscribers all over the planet.

My work have been discussed in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Inc. Magazine, and BusinessWeek. I have also contributed portions of Cameron Foote's The Business Side of Creativity, Robert Bly's Internet Direct Mail: The Complete Guide to Successful E-Mail Marketing Campaigns, and the new AIGA book on Professional Practices in Graphic Design.Â I have contributed to a dozen other publications by leading authors, and a recent three-part booklet series was published by NewPage, entitled David C. Baker Speaks.I am the author of the forthcoming RockBench book titled Managing (Right) for the First Time, available via Amazon.